by Deborah Wunderman, AIW Board Member

Your client with whom you have worked for many years has hired another freelance writer—and now requests your help in transitioning a new consultant to do what you once did as well as wants copies of materials and documents previously sent to them. Recently finding myself in this situation, I gathered advice from more than 30 freelance writers in the Washington, D.C. area who come down on two approaches to this problem.

Absolutely Do Not Help – here are reasons why:

When a client hires a consultant, they are hiring your specific expertise, including your previous work experience, institutional knowledge of your craft, and relationships. The incentive to keep you is your know-how. If they choose to go with someone else, despite your track record, they need to take the risk of starting all over again with a new consultant “who claimed or they thought would be better than you.” All you owe them is the funds raised. Sometimes clients hire younger, less experienced consultants because experienced ones are not as easy to push around and know enough to question dubious activities or business choices. Younger consultants may be cheaper, but clients often get what they pay for, especially with freelancers.

Parting thought – Why should you give them your ideas or contacts after treating you badly and choosing to go with another freelance consultant?

Absolutely Do Help – here are reasons why:

Do the transition if you are paid for your transition time, and then end the relationship on as pleasant, brief, and businesslike note as possible. One freelance writer advised to say something such as, “Although you regret this arrangement has come to its natural end, you respect their desire to move onto a new grant writer as they begin again under a new director and in a new direction. After receipt of a final payment, you will be delighted to promptly share all of the materials and assistance they have requested under a short-term close out contract. You wish them all the best, and your invoice is enclosed.” Since all relevant information has previously been provided during the course of your contract, you may consider that all business obligations are fulfilled. However, their request is probably being made because even if the organization can find where they have put these records, they probably do not know what story has been told. Give them a quote for the number of hours it will take you to enact a transition and don’t forget to give yourself a raise and insist on upfront payment for transition work.

Parting thoughts –

• Review your contract for sticky issues: Did you have a specified notification period for termination of contract? Did you fulfill all contract requirements? Did you work onsite or offsite? Was your contract an independent contractor/consultant basis? Did you submit grants/articles under your name, as if you were an employee of the organization?
• Demand a good reference; ask for it written so you can distribute when needed. Even better, write it yourself and ask the Executive Director to sign it on their letterhead.
• No new contract, no work.

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Deborah Wunderman has 20 years of experience in non-profit management and fund raising with close to 15 years specializing in foundation, government, and corporate proposal writing.  She first became a member of AIW while broadening her consulting practice in 2000 and served a year and a half term on the board in 2002.  Her work has brought in $7,635,669 dollars for non-profit and for-profit organizations that work locally, nationally, and internationally.  She has a BA from College of the Atlantic in Human Ecology with prior work experience in education, marine science, and the arts.